The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1886.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7722, 17 November 1886, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1886.

At a time when the borough of Gamaru is in sore financial straits, it is peculiarly inopportune that the Oamaru breakwater should have sustained serious damage, for the repair of which at least L 30,000 will be required. It is true that tho Harbour Board has rating powers over tho whole district, of which .the borough is only a small part—the present proportion of the harbour rates being L 2500 from the country' to L 560 from the town—and that the' finances of the Board and - ot the Corporation are separate; but there is no getting over the facts that the credit of ono body affects that of the other, and that the Board reliea partly for its support upon the municipality, which is already rated beyond, all reason. At present the town pays 3s 9d for' municipal rates, and with Is 9d for two Harbour Board rates its burdens would amount to 5s 6d in all. Under these circumstances it is difficult to see how the Harbour Board is to get any further rate out of the town and though they are not likely to accept Mr Shrimski's desire to throw the cost of a new loan on the country districts only, it must practically come to that. Under snch circumstances it is hardly necessary to point out that the Board will have unusual difficulty in raising a loan, and that it requires very strong reasons to justify them in indulging in so expensive a luxury. ' But after 1300,000 has been spent upon the harbour there is some force in the argument that it i 3 worth spending L 30.000 or L 40.000 more to prevent the L 300,000 from being made valueless. This, we think, must be granted, provided there is a reasonable assurance that the expenditure of the smaller sum will validate the larger original expenditure. But as to this the report of the Government Engineer, Mr Blackett,

upon the present state of the breakwater and the nature of the recent - -accident leaves the most serious doubt. These are his words :—' " The destructive action of the sea has been augmented by the unstable'nature. of the foundation of the breakwater,which is in some parts of & nature so' soft as to allow the whole structure to yield to the impact of the waves to a: seriouß extent, producing a certain amount of oscillation, which of course tends to loosm the blocks in their places and renders their dislodgment more easy." For these reasons Mr Blackett points out that it is useless to. spend LBOOO upon repairing the actual damage done to the breakwater without erecting a fresh breakwater to protect the existing one. The cost of such a guard, formed of heavy rockwork, surmounted by large concrete blocks, Mr Blackett estimates at L 22,000: making a total of L 30,000 required for repairs. Engineers' estimates are proverbially below the reality, and we notice that the Chairman of the Board stated that the lo«n may as well be for L 50,000 while they are about it!

Before the Oamaru Harbour Board go upon the market for another loan it is plainly necessary in the interests of good faith and of the public credit that it should be made clear that any new work can protect a breakwater the foundation of which is declared to be "unstable" and "in some parts of a nature so soft as to allow the whole structure to yield to the impact of the waves to a serious extent, producing a certain amount of oscillation," &c. It should also be made plain that the foundation of the protecting work is likely to be more stable than that of the no am structure. Quis custodiet ilium cuslodem ? Unless we have reasonable assurance upon these points, further expenditure will merely be throwing good money after bad. The Oamaru district.is not in a fit state to embark upon a further speculative, enterprise, and it looks ve ry much as if every heavy storm were likely to entail a further loan. For our own part we have never had much faith in the practicability of creating "a duckpond in the Pacific" either ab Oamaru or Timaru, and events are unfortunately bearing out our prognostications. Parliament ought never to have allowed either of these harbours to have been begun, and there is the less necessity for them now that goods can be railed to Lyttelton and Dunedin. We are sorry for the misfortune that has overtaken the Oamaru breakwater, but we conjure the ratepayers of the district to be careful how they lay further burdens upon themselves to go on with a harbour scheme which produces no corresponding benefits at all to be put in the scale with the sacrifices entailed, and the success of which is so very speculative. -

We cannot allow Mr Wales to resign tho Chairmanship of the Harbour Board without congratulating him upon the progress that has been made under his auspices and expressing the general feeling that he has performed the duties of an important public office to the entire satisfaction of a community which in harbnur matters is inclined, and with good reason, to be critical. It is of course difficult to say how far Mr Wales has reaped the benefit of what others have sown ; but apart from the very palpable progress that has been made during the last year, there hasbeena very gratifyingand much required cessation of the blunders which did so much to bring the Board into disrepute, and the operations of the Board have been conducted in a more systematic and businesslike way. The steady progress of the Upper Harbour works during the year has been a veritable triumphal march, and we venture to say that when our interprovincial friends hear jof the Mararc-a discharging a fc the Rattray street wharf, as she will this day fortnight, thoy cannoj; fail jto be awakened to the recognition that pun.edin is a seaport. If mai'^ 0* our cjfeenjs were to confess the truth, it is with soruS difficulty that they believe their own eyes when they see the Rotomahana, Tekapo, and other large intercolonial steamers lying within five minutes' .walk of the Post Office. With the building of the Union Company's wharf and the erection ai proper dumping apparatus, the works in the Upper Harbour will have reached a stage of success at whioh the Board can well

afford to leave them, to concentrate all their energies upon tho removal of the bar, which will tako away the last reproach attaching to the harbour. Por this purpoao wo are glad to learn that tho Board expect to liavo ample funds without resorting to fur. her boi rowing. Mr Wales is succeeded in office by a gentleman who has occupied the position before, and in very troublous times discharged its duties with great energy and devotion. He now resumes tho post with a fair wind and everything in his favour, so that there is. every reason to hope, that in another 12 months he'may b.e able to tell a tale as to the success of operations in the Lower Harbour which will pease our Port Chalmers friends, if indeed that be possible.

The remainder oE our report of Monday's meeting of the City Council, the report of yesterday's Harbour Board meeting, mid our Australian letter appear on our fourth page.

The mayoral nominations took place yesterday, and as' was expected tho only candidates for the city are Messrs John Carroll and R. H. Leary. No show of hands was taken, that ceremony not being necessary in elections under the Municipal Corporations Act. The polling for the election of mayor will take place on thisday week, the 2ith inst.

At the City Police Court yesterday morning one person was dealt with for drunkenness; Michael Dwyer and Georgo Harbour were each fined 10s and costs for creating a breach of the peace at Woodhaugh ;' and J tunes Metcalf was fined 10s and costs for leaving his cart unattended in the street. Messrs E. J. Spenco and A. Bartleman were the presiding justices.

The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Mosgiol Woollen Company was held yesterday, ■ when • the directors presented another favourable report and balance sheet. There was a fallingoff iii profits shbwnj but this was not very large when compared with the average profits for the last four years. The company declare the usual dividend, at the rate of 10 per cent., carry forward .a balance of £431, and make the usual allowance for depreciation. The report was adopted, retiring directors and auditors re-elected, and a vote of thanks passed to the directors and officers of the company.

The contract on the Otago Central; railway let ihis week is what ia known as the Silver Peak bridges masonry contract. It consists of the erection of the masonry, abutments, and piers only for bridges over Big lit. Allan, Little Mt. Allan, and Christmas creeks. The contractors, are Messrs Watson and Cuthbert, of Oamaru, and the amount is £13,057. The work is to bo completed by July 10,1887.

A man named George Westwood met with rather a severe accident on the Peninsula yesterday. It appears ho was undermining a bank at tho Camp, when a large quantity of earth fell on top i of him, fraqturing his left pelvis. He was conveyed to the. Hospital, where his injury was attended to by Dr Roberts. :

At the annual meeting of the Otago Institute to bo held iv the Museum this evening, the election of office-bearers for the ensuing session will take place. •Tho following papers will be read: "Descriptionsl of new spiders," by P. Goyen; on " New species of Araneidea," by A. T. Urquharfc: and " Descriptions of new native plants," by D. Petrie, F.L.S. Professor Parker will also deliver his presidental address.

We hear with pleasure that our old townsman and former city councillor Mr James Allen: will.return during the present week by tho s.s. Arawa, after an absence of three and a-half years in England and Germany. Havingattended for the love of mining science nearly all the classes in our local School of Mines, he has devoted his time at Home to further study of certain mining subjects at the Eoyal School of Mines and the Normal School of Science, London, obtaining amongst other prizes in the examinations the Bessemer medal in metallurgy and the Sir Roderic Murchison medal for geology.

An English financier of some note arrived in Auckland by the mail steamer—viz., Mr E. Brodie Hoare, chairman of tho Board of Directors of the National Bank of New Zealand, of the Lloyds, Barnett, and Bosanquet Bank, and a director of tho New Zealand Midland Railway Company. Mr Hoare is accompanied by his wife, and the present visit is intended as much for a pleasure trip as for business purposes.. He will investigate the bank's business in various centres, and also during his travels note the position and prospects of the colony. He intends to spend about a fortnight in the Auckland district, and in all probability will proceed South by tho overland route to Napier, so as to make a short sojourn at the Hot

By error the prizes awarded to Mr W. H, Teschemaker, of Taipo Hill, North Otago, at the Canterbury Association show, last week, were stated by a. correspondent to have been given to Mr Teschemaker, of Otain, in South Canterbury.

Two fatalities are reported from Feilding. A man named Nicholson, formerly of Dunedin, died from injuries received from a tree falling upon him; and Andrew Sukashasfzie committed suicide by shooting himself.

Referring to Sir James Martin, the late Chief Justice of New South Wales, Sir Henry Parkes sa}s: —"As an administrator ho was, on the whole,' a Bingularly clear-sighted and upright .man, always striving to hold the balance fairly between one party and another—considerate but firm, and above suspicion. He was one of the few Australian statesmen who kept up a thorough knowledge of the proceedings of the Imperial! Parliament. He always took the London Times, and was as well acquainted with everythiug that happened in the British Parliament as was a member of the House of Commons.' Amongst his peculiar notions—and he had peculiar notions—wero the strong opinions ha entertained about many groat men whoso characters he had estimated from study. He used to describe John Stuart Mill as a' charlatan,' Peel as 'an impostor,' whilst he had always a great admiration of Disraeli. If I were asked who was his model statesman, I should say Disraeli."

A very mysterious crime has been committed on the London Underground Railway. On the arrival of the city train due at Queen's road, Bayswater, at seven minntes to 6 en the evening of September 23, the attention of the newspaper hoy attached to the book stall on the platform was attracted to the last compartment bat one of the first-class carriage fourth from the engine, there being a stream of blood on the outside of the door, the window of which was open. On looking into the compartment the lad observed a gentleman lying prostrate on the floor, alone, and with his feet towards the door, there being a small quantity of blood on the carpet and a much larger quantity on the cushion of the seat nearest the engine. The boy at once shouted to the acting inspector on duty, George Hedge, who immediately opened the carriage door, and saw that the unfortunate man was quite insensible and that blood was flowing from a terrible wound on the forehead. Without a moment's delay the man was taken out of the carriage and conveyed to the inspector's office, where simple restoratives were applied, but without avail. Seeing the state of affairs, Hedge despatched messengers for a doctor and for the police. In a few minutes Dr Forbes Russell, of Queen's road, arrived, and advised the instant removal of the victim to a hospital. Several constables were also soon on the spot, and they speedily procured a wheekambulance, on which they conveyed tho unconscious man to St. (Jeorge.'s Hospital. It was there discovered that tho wound on the forehead was about 4in longj and that the bone had been smashed and de? pressed upon tho brain. On the arrival of the train at Queen's road the carriage in which the affair happened seemed to be perfectly empty, although the station officials are not quite certain on the point, owing to the oorifusion which prevailed. There was a black leather bag on tho seat, but it contained nothing to lead to the identification of its owner. Later inquiries showed that the victim was Mr Moritz Fischer, head; of the firm of M. A. Fischer and Co., general foreign agents, of 35 Carter lane. Mr Fischer was about tho city as usual during the day, and at his business house nothing appearp to be known wljioh would throw light ugon the events which have led to the

A meeting of the promoters of Queensland mines has been summoned to protest against the action o£ the Premier of Queens, land in warning English capitalists against mining ventures at Charters Towers. The London Financial News, referring to the matter" ascribes the caution publicly given by Sir J. F. Garrick, Agent-general of Queensland, to political hostility to Sir Thomas M'llwraitb, tlie late Premier, but tho Agent-general has since wrjtten tlepying the assertion.

(.'olouel Sir George Whitmoio iusi'eoted tho volunteers of tho NorLh Otngo Battalion at Oamaru yesterday afternoon. Tho weather was fine, and theru was a largo attimdnnco of spectators, who watched tho movements with interest. -WO volunteers, including cadets, paraded. After tho inspection a number of military movements were performed, and at the conclusion of the parado Colonel Whitmoro said he was glad to see so maoy volunteers in uuch a high state of efficiency present. A marked improvement wan apparent Binco his last inspection, uud Lieutenant-colonel Sumptcr, commanding the district, was complimented ou having such a large and efficient force under his command.

The Melbourne Ago takos an unfavourable view of tho proposed Imperial Institute. It will (says that journal) doubtless be a nice addition to tho show places of the modern Babylon, and one which will prove a great attraction to colonists who may for a time take up their abode in England. But it is a very small percentage of Australians who will enjoy the opportunity of inspecting it. To tho mass of the people in this part of the world the benefits to bo derived from the proposed institution are decidedly problematical. Tho colonial representation in Eng-4 land, hitherto has invoked no small amount of snobbery and turf hunting, and it may readily be conceived that the vast majority of stay-at-home Australians are not particularly anxious to lavish excessive contributions upon what may prove to be an opening for tho further development of similar characteristics. While some good may come from the establishment in London of n permanent exposition of colonial products, past experience proves that it is quite as likely to lead to squabbles and misunderstandings.

Another of tho valuable business corners of Dunedin i» to bo put tip at auction today by Mr Montagu Pym. The si ttion wo allude to is that one in Princes street opposite tho new building of the Australian Mutual Provident Company, and being a freehold it should undoubtedly attract the attention of those companies in search of suitable premises.

There was a large attendance at the Garrison Hall last night on tho occasion of a concert being given thero by the pupils of the Dominican Convent High School, assisted by Mr F. Leech's violin school band. Tho concert was opened by a rolo and chorus, in which the pupils attending tho Convent School took part. They also subsequently sang ns a concluding item a musical setting by Mr 3?. Leech of " All Hail! Zealandia." This was rendered with very good effect, and was heartily applauded. The soloists were Misses E. Leech, M. Mills, Woods, Conway, and. Walsh, all of whom acquitted themselves very creditably. Violin solos wore contributed by Messrs A.- Boldini, B. B. Huxtable, and Miss Miaa Schlotel, and the efforts of each of the performers were duly appreciated. Misses Moloney and Williamson took part in two piano duets, and also assisted n an overture with Messrs Watson and Harming, assisted by Mr Leech's band. The latter selection—" Semiramide," by Rossini—was very efficiently played, and formed quite a feature of the entertainment. Another item of a similar character was performed earlier in the evening; the instrumentalists being Misses M. Howell, Williamson, Morrison, and Martin, and Mr Leech's band. Misses Moloney, Harming, and Watson acted as accompanists, and Mr Leech as conductor. At the conclusion of the concert Bishop Moran thanked the audience for their liberal patronage, and also those who had rendered their services at the concert.

The special programme arranged for Mr] Mallaby's benefit at tho Princess Theatre tomorrow includes a scene from " Tho School for. Scandal," by Mr Alleyne and Miss Wade; the. dream sceno from "The Bells," by Mr Henry Alleyne; a recitation, by Mr T. J. Stewart; the; second act of " The Great Pink Pearl"; and a a sketch, by Mr Wilfri'l Beaumont. Thare are also songs by Miss Rodney, H. B. • Smith, and. Harry Power, and a recitation by Mr Melville. Mr Mallaby takes part in the scene from " The Pink Pearl."

It is proposed to tender a farewell concert to Signor Carmini Morley, who is about to leave Duneilin, and preparations are being made to hold the entertainment on December 1 in the Choral Hall. Signor Morley's reputation both as a vocalist and a teacher will no doubt cause a ready interest to be Bhown in the undertaking.

The grand concert in aid of the fund for liquidating tho debts of the late Musical Union takes place in the Garrison Hall' to-night;, and as will bo seen by the advertised programme, promises to be a great success. Some of the best amateur and professional musicians inDunedin are assisting, and there are a number of first-class instrumental items. Among these are a clarionet solo by Mr Mears, cornet solo by Mr Coombs, piano solo by Mr Barth, and a trio for piano, viola, and 'cello by Miss Wilson, Mr Schacht, and Mr Charles Waud.

The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand sell sheep and cattle at their yards, Stirling, on Friday next.

Messrs J. Samson and Co. sell household furniture, piano, &c, at theirrooms to morrow.

The time for receiving entries for the A. nni P. Show is extended to Friday next. Messrs Arbuckle, Hoberl son,«nd Co. sell by auction the Clifton Hill and Manor Hill farms on Friday next, also the stock and agricultural implements. Messrs J. A. Park and Co. will sell household furniture, plate, &c, at their rooms, at 2 o'clock to-day. Mr D. Stronach sells a quantity of damaged voolpacks at the Otago Wool and Grain Stores on Monday next. U'he reward Bismarck will claim after the fighting will be the now becoming celebrated port at Antwerp, Holland, Denmark, the German-speaking provinces of Russia, and Austria, giving the victorious Power compensation iv another direction. Nothing will satisfy liiamirck, but the re-estauliihment of the old German Umpire. Then we shall draw near the time of the long peace. A. Dokxwell Is the best and cheapest bu'.cher In Dunediu.—[Advt ]

Carefully Head. As uiual during November and December, all customeri spending £5 at The London will be pretemVd with a lovely album or Japanese cabinet, splendidly and profusely illuminated, and cheap at half-a-guinea. Save your bills. Kemember at the London, in George street. Come and look at our windows and doors ; it will do you good, even if not wanting to purchase. At The London ladies can select from a large variety of silk a"d cashmere dolmans, marvellous value, 16s (id, 18a 6d, 21s (id, 22s 6d, 25s 6d. At The London short jackets arestill the rage in stoekingette and curl cloths—a pretty lot just opened—see the prices, 13s fld, 16s 6d, 18s 6d, 2ls 6d, 2-ls 6d. Wailiing silks at cost prices, Is 4|d. worth 2s 6d. The prints now showing at 3Jd, 4Jd, 6?d, are perfect woniers; also 330 plfcceß coloured cashmeres, double width, Is 3d and Is 4jd ; and beautiful serge 3 at 7j|d are worth seeing. Ladles in town and country requiring a Btylish dress made at reasonable price should try The London. Satisfaction guaranteed; charges from 12s 6d.—Price andßulleid.-CAdvt.] Some marvellous Bargains from the Great Bargain Distributors.—Lot 65, a rich and handsome bargain. About 300 unmade dresses, each containing li yards of beautiful cream oatmeal cloth and 12 yams lovely antique or Yak lace for trimming; each dress to be sold for 6i 6d—usual price 10s Bd. Lot 86.—A magnificent drcs at a moderate price. Bach of these beautiful dresses contains 8 yards of superb quality cashmere (all shades) and 2 yards rich quality v?lvet or si:k for trimming; each dreas to be sold at 16s lid. Ladies will be highly pleased with this dress. Lot 67.—5000 yard 3 fine quality black cashmere, 12Jd yard, or 11s 9d for 12 yards. No lady ought to pass this by; for walking out, travelling, or children's dresses, this is a material that will give the greatest satisfaction. Ladies would do well to buy whole pieces of this; 50-yarii lengths at the price quoted, 12Jd per yard.—Pite and Oitmikg, Heady Money Drapers, 92 and 94 George street.—[Advt]. Heavily Overstocked.—Cahter and Co.! owing to the late severe weather and general slow; ness of trade, have not sold their first spring shipment of drapery and clothing, as they expected. Carter and Co. have lately opened up their second, third, and fourth shipments of new goods, and now find themselves enormously overstocked. 107 cases and bales have keen landed ex lonic, Kimutaka, Tainui, and Kaikoura within the last 10 weeks. Carter and Co. have determined to give their customers and the public the benefit of the situation, and will offer their entire Btock for one month at desperate prices. For list of bargains see Star Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridayu; or call and inspect the exceptional bargains ■. n offer.—[Advt.] The Prince of Summer Drinks.—" Thomson and Co.'s ginger ale stands a sea voyage well; it reached us in excellent d ndition. pouring out brilliant and witha finepersistenthead. This ginger ale -which, by the way, is guaranteed to be entirely free from alcohol—ia of a more delicate flavour than the geneiiilitv of thnt we are accustomed to meet with in England, and on this account, to our particular taste, is preferable,"—British and Colonial Druggist, London.—[Advt.]